It is a measure of the belief now coursing through the Southampton squad that Rickie Lambert is daring to dream.

Having beaten Liverpool, held Manchester United and pegged back rivals City, the England striker could be forgiven for doing so.

Those results – and the Saints ’ refusal to be broken by an injury crisis – has given the south-coast side the confidence to compete with the Premier League’s big guns knowing they have nothing to fear.

That confidence has come from boss Mauricio Pochettino, with the eighth-placed club now bidding to confound expectations further by breaking into the top four.

And Lambert is hoping that in this wide-open season, the Saints are able to surprise a few people.

He said: “We hope so, but there is a lot of hard work to do going into the second half of the campaign.

“But we believe we can do it. I don’t want to say to people that we are going to finish in the top four, as I understand how hard that’s going to be. There are some top squads.

“But it has changed this year. It is not the same league that it has been for the past 15 years. The way that the Premier League is built is very different to Spain.

“Teams like Everton and Spurs – big clubs – believe they can win the league, and that is great.”

Last Saturday’s 1-1 draw against City ended a run of three straight defeats. More significantly, it highlighted the resilience within a team robbed of keeper Artur Boruc, right-back Nathaniel Clyne and midfielders Victor Wanyama and Morgan Schneiderlin.

Saturday’s tough match at Newcastle is followed by an equally difficult home game against Spurs, before trips to Cardiff and Everton.

(Image: Getty)

Lambert added: “We know it’s going to be hard and we want to try to rectify a run of three defeats and one draw. But coming back against City like we did gave us great confidence.”

Lambert’s gratitude to Newcastle chief Alan Pardew – who signed him for Southampton – is well documented. The frontman said: “He did a lot for my career. I’ve always said that. He got Manager of the Year two or three years ago and he deserves the recognition he is getting.

“I’ve played against him a couple of times now. We won against them at our place 1-0 and then we lost at their place 4-2. Newcastle is a hard place to go. A very hard place.”

Lambert, 31, is also indebted to England manager Roy Hodgson and Pochettino for getting him into World Cup contention.

He said: “They are different ­characters. They ask for totally different stuff.

“You get told to do stuff on Saturday, then you go to England and it can be completely different. But you believe in both of them and you have to do it to the best of your ability.

“My mindset has changed massively over the past four years.

“I would never have believed I could have done what I have over the last four years, or what the club has achieved. But we have, so I’m never going to rule out anything.

“Do I feel this season is the one when the top four won’t be the big four? Yes. That place is up for grabs and I think it is about who believes it the most. Also, luck is involved.

“We’ve had injuries, which has knocked us a bit. And I think the team with the fewest ­injuries will have a bit of help. But it’s so close. Anyone can do it. Why not us?”